City budget calls for 6 percent tax increase

ONEIDA -- City of Oneida residents can expect a 6 percent property tax increase next year now that the Common Council has adopted its $16.75 million 2013 budget.

Nearly $2 million of the budget will be levied through taxes. Increasing the property tax rate by 6 percent, inside district taxpayers will be responsible for a $7.68 rate and outside district residents will pay $6.79. For property valued at $100,000, a homeowner in the inside district would look at paying $768, about $43.53 more than last year. Outside district homeowners with a $100,000 home would be responsible for $679.

To support next year's budget, the council also passed a series of increased fee schedules for various city departments. Many of the fees were increased to more than double their current rates. City Comptroller Joan Cukierski projects that an additional $33,000 will be raised next year because of the increases, on top of the typical $77,000 fees usually generate.

Washington Avenue Resident Ellen Schaub criticized the fee increases, saying the additional costs that taxi drivers and garbage collectors will now have to pay will inevitably be passed down to taxpayers.

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Ward 2 Councilman David Cimpi said most of the fees haven't been increased in a considerable amount of time and are being adjusted so that those who use those services are paying an equitable portion of the cost so they don't have to be subsidized as much by taxpayers.

Potential changes to the city charter were met with some opposition at their introduction during Tuesday's meeting.

The City Charter and City Manager Committee was formed at the beginning of the year, charged with reviewing the city charter and researching the idea of creating a city manager position. For the first time since its creation, the committee issued several pages of recommended changes to the council. Those changes include minor adjustments in wording to more serious amendments like redistricting, term changes and the creation of a city manager or administrator.

The committee submitted to the council a recommendation to redistrict the city's wards to more equitably represent residents. The city hasn't been redistricted since 1979, creating an imbalance in the size of the wards. For example, Ward 2 has twice as many registered voters than Ward 4.

Another significant change being proposed is the creation of a city manager or administrator position. While both would serve in similar capacities -- to oversee the overall operation of the city and its finances -- the creation of a city manager would require a charter change by way of public referendum; an administrator would not. In order to have a city manager, the city's governmental organization would have to change from a council with a separately-elected mayor to a commission in which the mayor is appointed internally.

While the committee favors the eventual creation of a city manager position, former mayor and chairman of the committee Peter Hedglon explained that it will take years to navigate through a charter review and referendum, and so in the meantime the city should consider an administrator.

Schaub was opposed to the change, questioning where the city would find the money to fund either of the positions. She also criticized a commission form of government, saying the administration would be taking voting privileges away from the public by appointing its own mayor.

Moving forward, if changes are to be made to the charter, a commission will need to be formed to review the amendments. That commission can be formed in one of three ways, Hedglon explained: by petition, by an executive order of the mayor or legislative action by the council.

In other business, the council approved:

o The establishment of a Traffic Safety Board.

o A three-year agreement with PAC 10 to provide video recording services for regular and special Common Council meetings.

o A one-year agreement with the city historian, David Alvord.

o The sale of a surplus 1999 Ford Crown Victoria for $75 to Marty Goodfellow of Rome; the vehicle was posted on eBay three times without receiving any bids.

o Authorizing the purchasing agent to sell a large '30s-style speaker from the Kallet Civic Center.

o Authorize the fire chief to apply for a Fire Prevention and Safety Grant through FEMA.

Acting Mayor Max Smith was absent from the meeting. The council is scheduled to meet next on Dec. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.